A staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force Reserve from Texas has been arrested on felony charges related to the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Kyle Douglas McMahan, 41, of Watauga, was taken into custody in Dallas nearly three years after authorities say he joined the pro-Trump mob that attacked the Capitol. McMahan, who was wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat with “God” written on it, allegedly pushed and grabbed police officers and called one officer a “traitor.”
According to court papers, McMahan’s Google search history after the riot included inquiries such as “Can I resign from the military if I do not want to serve an illegitimate president?” and “capitol terrorists identified.” He now faces felony charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers and obstruction of law enforcement, as well as additional misdemeanor offenses. At the time of writing, no lawyer has been named in the court docket.
McMahan’s involvement in the riot was captured on camera. He was seen pushing against an officer outside a Capitol door before entering the building. Inside, prosecutors allege that he attempted to swat at an officer and grabbed another officer’s fingers, causing injury. Before leaving the Capitol, McMahan was caught on video calling an officer a “traitor.” He was later spotted outside the building wearing a green ballistics helmet and carrying an American flag.
Authorities state that McMahan openly boasted about his participation in the riot on social media. In one post, he wrote, “For those that think we went in because of Trump is uninformed. We the people are the ones that need to rid our government of corruption, abuse, and tyranny!” It is estimated that approximately 1,200 individuals have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot, including both former and active duty military or reserve members.
The Department of Defense database confirms that McMahan is a current staff sergeant in the Air Force Reserve. The Air Force has not yet responded to media inquiries about the arrest.
The Capitol riot resulted in numerous injuries to police officers and the temporary suspension of President Joe Biden’s election certification. Over 700 defendants have been sentenced, with the majority receiving prison terms ranging from three days to 22 years. The incident has raised concerns about the presence of radicalized individuals within the military and the need for greater accountability and security measures.
